Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-27
night and low variety theatres flourish

night and low variety theatres flourish
throughout the year. Public drinking
is well.nigh universal. From the El
Paso Herald, now lying upon my table,
of the same issue, by the way. that con-
tanned the notorious libel OF Cntting
upon Medina, which came so near pro-
voking an international war, make two
significant extracts:
"Prcsby yteriaa- services to-day at ii
A NJ. Owing TO the loss of the lighting
fixtures by the late burglary OF the
church, there will he no service in the
evening"
"No one in Ell Paso wishes TO see q
puritanicsl condition of society, nor is
the Herald endeavoring to inculcate
superfuo degree of morality, but
this paper and every interested citizen
wishes to see change made and witness
check pat upon the degraded circum-
stances which brought about the recent
bagnio killings. Arrogance,
brazeu exhibitions on the streets, threats
of throttling the public press, and boast.
full defiance of the courts of justice
will have TO cease" But II pamphlet
published by the Times Company says:
"Sure1y, a community in which one
third of the population profess direct
church affiliations, cannot be very law
less" Let us try to believe this
pamphleteer when he tells us that "the
people of Texas are eminently relig-
ious people," and. in substance, that FL
Paso is the sanctum sanctoTttm OF Texas.
THE CLIMATE
.,.s4;ounIl,, odyant,1oous to NOR
sons whose pulmonary systems are
weakened or diseased, and is, in general,
exceptionally salubrious. The eleva-
ton is 1000 feet, and the air is dry.
1t is true now, as in lS47, when Mr..
j. I. Hughes wrote to the Secretary OF
War, that "pears, peaches, apples,
ounces and figs are produced here in
the greatest profnsion." The black
Mission grapes of FL Paso are very pro-
ductive and are highly valued. A good
vineyard is worth $1,000 an acre. An
other important product is alfalfa, q
hardy and nutritious grass, first intro.
duced in lS49. 1t is the staple food for
cattle, horses, hogs and chickens. .Tne
list of vegetable products includes
nearly all the berries known to the At
lantic and Middle States; also almonds,
pecans and prunes. 1t ought to be said
that the fertility OF this country is con-
hned to fhe valley of the Rio Grande.
Here, as along the n lie, barren lands
border the green banks of the river.
The great expectations of the FL Paso
people cannot be realized until
horticulture, agriculture and grazing
receive the encouragement that can be
given only by the establishment OF an
adequate system of irrigation. America
must study the ruined canals of Meso-
potamia, of Egypt, and of Spain. In
time, doubtless, capital will be persuad-
ell to direct the muddy waters of the
Rio Grande to the dull brown fields
that will then blossom as the rose. Till
that is done Ell Paso must be content to
remain little more than an impor ant
railway junction, the great southwestern
"cross roads," ard the gateway into
Mexico. Ii the adjoining ports OF
Texas, Northern Mex co and New Mex
leo were naturally suited to agricultural
pursuits. Ell Paso would quickly become
Chicago. Climatic changes els where,
notably in western X nsas and in the
northern part of New Mexico, are work.
ing miracles, which may be re.wrought
in the valley of the Rio Grande.
j. ALoNZo FISHER. M. A.
John Hopkins University, Baltimore,
Md.